Saga University prosthetic arm is developed for the realization of 5DoF upper limb motions
for a transhumeral amputee. The hand is controlled using a combination of an EMG based
controller (EBC) and a task oriented kinematic based controller (KBC). Figure 17 shows an
experimental setup of an EMG signal based controller of a Saga prosthetic arm. In a trans‐
humeral amputee a part of the biceps and triceps are remaining. EMG signals of the amputee’s
biceps and triceps are used as the input information for the EBC to control elbow flexion/
extension and hand grasp/release. Forearm supination/pronation, wrist flexion/extension and
ulnar/radial deviation get controlled from the KBC. Motion intention of the amputee is
identified via a task classifier using shoulder and prosthesis elbow kinematics. For the scope
of this context only the EBC will be considered. EMG based fuzzy controller is the base for
EBC. It proportionally controls the torque of the elbow and hand actuator according to the
amount of the EMG signal. The activation of biceps generates the elbow flexion and the
activation of triceps generates the elbow extension. Hand grasp is realized when both triceps
and biceps are activated simultaneously. The release position of the hand is achieved when
the both muscles are not working.